London at War: A Military History Tour of Whitehall & Westminster
London at War. We trace military history from the British Empire and WWI through the Blitz of WWII to the Cold War, walking across Westminster, The Mall, and Whitehall. Highlights include the Churchill War Rooms, the Cenotaph, the Battle of Britain Monument and St. Ermin’s Hotel.
Basic Information
Total time
2h 45m
Language
English (check the calendar for availability)
Price
Our “Pay What You Wish” tours don’t have a fixed price — you decide how much the experience was worth. At the end of the tour, please make a fair contribution that reflects your satisfaction and appreciation for your guide’s work. Most guests give between €10 and €50 per person.
Meeting point
Burghers of Calais Statue, Victoria Tower Gardens South Park Nearest public transport: Westminster metro station; numerous buses also serve the area"
Additional info
☂︎ This tour is organised by Walkative London guides. Look for the guide with the yellow umbrella.
❗Our tours run in all weather conditions. High or low temperatures, rain, or snow are never a reason for us to cancel. We’re always here for you! The only reasons for cancellation are extreme weather conditions (such as heavy storms), a guide’s sudden illness, or if there are fewer than 5 registered participants. In such cases, we will always notify you using the contact information you provided when booking the tour.Booking rules
Booking is obligatory. Our “Pay What You Wish” tours are meant for individual travellers and small groups. Large groups (8 or more people) cannot join these tours, as they significantly affect the experience for others and the guide. For school trips, organised tours, or groups of friends, please book our paid option (18€ per person) or arrange a Private Tour. For more information or to schedule a group visit, please contact us directly.
About the tour
From defeating Napoleon, to crushing uprisings in the Empire, to fighting off the Nazi Luftwaffe, Britain has been at the centre of some of the most defining conflicts in world history, with London as the beating heart of its military prowess. How could it be that the capital of such a small island ended up running one of the greatest military powers of the globe? Join us on Walkative’s London At War tour to delve deep into this question and explore London’s wartime history, from the British Empire, the Blitz & WWII, to the Cold War. Starting by the Palace of Westminster, and walking through the Mall and government district of Whitehall, we’ll discuss the conflicts of the British Empire and the millions of troops fighting for (and sometimes against) it in the 19th century. We’ll reveal the harrowing truth of the birth of concentration camps in South Africa standing by the Boer War Memorial, as well as pass the house of the famous T.E. Lawrence, whose life inspired the era-defining ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ movie. We will then step into the enthralling stories of WWII, and, at Blitz damage, discuss what it was like for Londoners as the Nazi Luftwaffe assaulted the city with thousands of bombs. We will see where Winston Churchill’s War Rooms were, explaining the decisions made below, and pay our respects at the Cenotaph and Battle of Britain Monument. Lastly, but not only, at St Ermin’s Hotel, we will unearth the secret story of the Cambridge Spy Ring operating during the times of the Cold War.Join our London At War tour to see both the iconic places related to WWII, as well as hidden spots and memorials to forgotten tales that you would otherwise have missed. Most of all, though, join us to understand the bigger picture of London at the centre of the world in times of conflict, from early Zeppelin air raids during WWI, through the battles of the British Empire, WWII and the Blitz, up to the movies that made the image of the dry, posh, tongue-in-cheek, moustachioed military officer so iconic. This tour has it all!
Highlights
- 1
Lord North Street
Step into one of Westminster’s best-preserved wartime streets, where original air raid shelters reveal how Londoners endured the Blitz.
- 2
Westminster Abbey
See the scars left by Nazi bombs on this centuries-old landmark — a reminder of London’s resilience during the relentless Luftwaffe raids.
- 3
St Ermin’s Hotel
Uncover the secret world of espionage; this elegant hotel once served as a base for MI6 and the famed Special Operations Executive.
- 4
The Mall
Learn how the Royal Family supported the war effort, from rallying the nation’s morale to serving on the front lines.
- 5
Admiralty Citadel & Churchill War Rooms
Explore the fortified heart of wartime London, where Churchill and his team directed Britain’s defence from underground headquarters.
- 6
The Cenotaph & Whitehall
The United Kingdom’s central war memorial, honouring the men and women who gave their lives in service to the nation.
- 7
Battle of Britain Memorial
A moving tribute to the airmen who defended Britain’s skies during one of the most decisive battles of World War II.
Map
Burghers of Calais Statue, Victoria Tower Gardens South Park Nearest public transport: Westminster metro station; numerous buses also serve the area"
Our customers said about us
London
5.0Dionysus
A great Tour done by Liv
The tour was great and Liv is very informed and a good story teller! As a historian, I recommend to everyone this tour.
London
5.0Néstor
Amazing history lesson with Liv at the 'London at war' walking tour
Liv is an amazing guide and manages to not just show you London under a different perspective but also provide interesting and impactful pieces of war history. We enjoyed discussing about how history sometimes repeats itself and events like the Nazi award ceremony at the Canadian parliament and Katharine Gun's life.
London
5.0Mathilde
Alex was a great guide!
I very much enjoyed the tour:) Alex was a great guide, taking the time to answer all our questions, to explain things, and to personalize the tour according to our questions and specific interests. I fully recommend!
London
5.0CHIBUZOR WISDOM UGWUEGBULAM
MR
N/A
London
5.0Lieve
Liv was amazing
We know the concept of free walking tours from Belgium and had good experiences with it. On the way to the meeting point I was stressed, because there was a big crowd of people in London. However, our guide Liv led us along quiet streets and quiet squares, and showed us many places with a link to the war history of the city. She gave us a lot of information, interspersed with interesting facts and fait divers. Definitely worth repeating!
London
5.0Laura Santoni
London history brought to life
Roisin, our guide, presented a lively and informative tour of London’s parliamentary and social history. She entertained us with little known facts and our walk through the centre of London on cold February day amounted to a great day out. Thank you, Roisin!
London
5.0Ernesto
Fantastic experience with James
Had a wonderful time learning about London during this time visiting different points of interest and discovering secret gems. Would definitely recommend it to anyone!
London
5.0Lan
A tour with great story telling!
We have had an amazing tour with James, who is incredibly captivating, informative and humorous. He always answered our questions and seemed passionate about everything he told us about. He was an absolute joy for our group of 7. The tour itself, was very interesting and peaked our curiousity multiple times, it took us to a bunch of historically significant landmarks, that we ended up returning to in the following days. i would highly recommend giving this tour a try!
London
5.0Brendan Quinn
WW2
Fanstatic, has done his homework, don't want to give too much away, just do it.
London
5.0Jemma
Brilliant Tour with Alex
Myself and my husband joined the London at War Tour with Alex today and it was absolutely fab! We enjoyed it so much. Alex was quietly intelligent and very interesting, very easy to listen to. Thoroughly recommend. Thank you :)
